De Heus Animal Nutrition has announced that it will be switching to a so-called ‘one-tier board’ model starting with January 1, 2025, with Gabor Fluit as the new CEO. In this model, the company will have one single governing body, the Board of Directors.
Co and Koen de Heus have co-held the position of CEO of the family business, De Heus Animal Nutrition, since 2007. Aiming to continue to grow in a sustainable manner, the family business has announced that it will make several changes to the its governance model in order to do so.
Switching to a new governance model as of January 1, 2025, De Heus Animal Nutrition at present has a so-called “two-tier board model”. This model has a Board of Directors, consisting of the two co-CEOs and the CFO, and a Supervisory Board.
By switching to a “one-tier board” model, the company will have one single governing body (the Board of Directors), which will be comprised of both executive directors and non-executive directors (the supervisors). The Board of Directors will consist of 8 directors. In addition to Co and Koen de Heus, four of the five current supervisory board members will assume non-executive director duties. Gabor Fluit and Max van der Kwaak will serve on the Board of Directors in their capacities as executive directors.
CO AND KOEN DE HEUS WILL CHAIR THE NEW BOARD
On behalf of the family, Co and Koen de Heus will serve as Co-Chairmen of the board. In this position, they will remain directly involved in the establishment of the strategy to be adopted and the strategic decision-making processes that take place in the family business. As the company’s Co-Chairmen, they will continue to represent the organisation to a large extent. In their capacities as non-executive directors, they will provide direct oversight of the implementation of decisions to be made by the board, and they will remain responsible for establishing the company’s general course of action.
AS CEO, FLUIT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF STRATEGY
The newly to be appointed CEO and executive director, Gabor Fluit, will be responsible for the implementation and execution of the strategic decisions made by the board. Fluit joined De Heus in 2008. He and his team built the company’s activities in Vietnam from scratch. He then strengthened De Heus’ position in Asia by establishing strong market positions in Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and India. In 2021, Gabor Fluit played a part in the acquisition of MNS Feed, which has since been integrated in De Heus Vietnam’s organisation.
Fluit will lead the Executive Committee, which will support him in the implementation of the strategy.
“We are glad to have found the right person for the position of CEO in our organisation in Gabor,” said Co de Heus on the subject of Gabor Fluit’s appointment to the CEO position. “We have collaborated with him for a long time. Gabor knows our organisation and company culture like the back of his hand. He did a fabulous job in Asia. We are convinced that, given his qualities, leadership style and ability to push boundaries and be successful, Gabor is the right person to guide De Heus to further growth and a highly promising future.”
